Hydrangea plant named ‘CMT 010’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘CMT 010’, characterized by its relatively compact and uniformly mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; large and dense intermediate lacecap-type inflorescences with numerous double-type sterile flowers that are white in color; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla X Hydrangea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CMT 010’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Shimane Prefecture of Shimane, Japan on Jun. 22,2020, application number 34776. Foreign priority is not claimed to thisapplication.

The Inventors/Applicants and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventors/Applicants and/or the Assignee. Inventors/Applicants andAssignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for salesprior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effectivefiling date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla X Hydrangeahybrida, commercially referred to as an intermediate lacecap-typeHydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘CMT 010’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Izumo-shi, Shimane, Japan. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and earlyflowering Hydrangea plants with compact plant habit and intermediatelacecap-type inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a self-pollination made by theInventors in June, 2009 in Izumo-shi, Shimane, Japan, of a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla X Hydrangea hybrida identified ascode number Cmt005-014, not patented. The new Hydrangea plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Izumo-shi, Shimane, Japan in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Izumo-shi, Shimane, Japan sinceJanuary, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘CMT 010’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘CMT 010’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large and dense intermediate lacecap-type inflorescences with        numerous double-type sterile flowers that are white in color.    -   6. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selection in inflorescence and flower form. Plants of the newHydrangea have intermediate lacecap-type inflorescences with double-typesterile flowers whereas plants of the parent selection have lacecapinflorescences with single-type sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘FRCK 003 S 123’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 17/506,251 filed concurrently. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of‘FRCK 003 S 123’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘FRCK 003 S 123’.    -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have        lanceolate-shaped sepals with entire margins whereas sterile        flowers of plants of ‘FRCK 003 S 123’ have broadly ovate-shape        sepals with serrate margins.    -   3. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are white in        color whereas sterile flowers of plants of ‘FRCK 003 S 123’ are        violet blue and white bi-colored when “blued”.    -   4. Flower pedicels of plants of the new Hydrangea are more        upright than and not as horizontal as flower pedicels of plants        of ‘FRCK 003 S 123’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘CMT 010’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘CMT 010’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown in containers in an outdoor nursery in Izumo-shi,Shimane, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercialHydrangea production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 15° C. to 25° C. Plants of the newHydrangea were not pinched and were about twelve months from plantingrooted young plants when the photographs were taken and about threemonths from planting rooted young plants when the description was taken.Plants of the new Hydrangea are not suitable to be treated with aluminumsulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla X Hydrangea hybrida    ‘CMT 010’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla X Hydrangea hybrida identified as code number            Cmt005-014, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla X Hydrangea hybrida identified as code number            Cmt005-014, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at            temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 90 days            at temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact and uniformly            mounded plant habit; upright and broadly outwardly spreading            plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 35 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four            lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—About 45° from vertical.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 187C; at the internodes, close            to N144D.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 187B; at the internodes,            close to 144A; woody, close to 199C.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About            0.5 mm. Color: Close to 187B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, to            145B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C;            venation, close to 145A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and            conspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on intermediate            lacecap-type terminal panicles; panicles semi-globular in            shape; sterile and fertile flowers face mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower in            the early summer in Japan; plants begin flowering about 65            days after planting rooted young plants.        -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; fertile and            sterile flowers last for about five weeks on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about eight            sterile open flowers per panicle and about 450 fertile            flowers per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 21 cm.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Shape: Globose. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Six in a            single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 149C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 150B. Fully            developed, upper surface: Close to 157D; color becoming            closer to 145C with subsequent development. Fully developed,            lower surface: Close to 155B; color becoming closer to 145C            with subsequent development. Petals, sterile flowers: To            date, petal development has not been observed on the sterile            flowers.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm or less            than 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to N144B. Fully developed, upper            surface: Close to N144A; color becoming closer to 144C with            subsequent development. Fully developed, lower surface:            Close to N144B; color becoming closer to 144C with            subsequent development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            eight or more in about one or two whorls. Length: About            3 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Mucronate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully            developed, upper surface: Close to 155C; color becoming            closer to 145C with subsequent development. Fully developed,            lower surface: Close to 155C; color becoming closer to 145B            with subsequent development.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:            About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            Close to 143C.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: To date,            stamen development has not been observed on fertile flowers            of plants of the new Hydrangea. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm or less than 1 mm.            Stigma shape: Semi-globose. Stigma color: Close to 155B.            Style length: About 1 mm or less than 1 mm. Style color:            Close to 143C. Ovary color: Close to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: To date,            stamen development has not been observed on fertile flowers            of plants of the new Hydrangea. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Globose. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About            0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 143A. Ovary color: To date,            ovary development has not been observed on sterile flowers            of plants of the new Hydrangea.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed    have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures from    −5° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘CMT 010’ asillustrated and described.